ASTANA, Kazakhstan, February 27. Kazakhstan proposes to include the issue of digital transformation of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR, or Middle Corridor) in the second stage of the Ready4Trade project, carried out with the International Trade Center (ITC), said the Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan Arman Shakkaliyev, Trend reports.
He made the remark during a meeting with Executive Director of the ITC Pamela Coke-Hamilton.
"We need to focus on consolidating key trade facilitation tools, including business process reengineering, harmonization and data sharing. ITC's experience in trade facilitation will be invaluable to joint efforts. It is also important to include the issue of digital transformation of the Middle Corridor on the agenda of the second stage of the project (Ready4Trade)," he said.
At the same time, he added that the emphasis should shift to the development of advanced technologies for paperless trading via TITR. This will raise the profile of the Middle Corridor as an alternative to the Northern Corridor, maximizing benefits for Kazakhstan, Central Asia and EU countries.
In addition, the parties summed up the results of the first stage of the project for the development of cross-border trade Ready4Trade Central Asia, which was implemented over the course of four years in five countries - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
According to Arman Shakkaliyev, Kazakhstan has achieved certain successes in trade and economic interaction with other states in the region with the assistance of the ITC. The first stage of the project saw the successful launch of trade portals in Central Asia, in particular the award-winning Central Asia Gateway. The recommendations, developed jointly with ITC, cover the most important aspects of international trade.
"Kazakhstan is interested in continuing cooperation, since the successes achieved have laid the foundation for expanding trade relations between Europe and the countries of Central Asia. Established connections contribute to the growth of trade turnover and diversification of exports in the future," Shakkaliyev noted.
The Middle Corridor is a transportation and trade route that connects Asia and Europe, passing through several countries in the region. It is an alternative route to the traditional Northern Corridor and Southern Corridor.
The route starts in China and crosses Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. It then passes through the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye before reaching Europe.
The Middle Corridor offers a land route that connects the eastern parts of Asia, including China, with Europe, bypassing the longer maritime routes.